Gold medals are so synonymous with Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky that it’s almost shocking to see her take the stage. Without it With that shiny metal around her neck, no one has had a bigger impact on women’s competitive swimming in the past two decades than Ledecky. With 10 Olympic medals, 21 world championship titles, countless world records and three (soon to be four) Olympic Games under her belt, Ledecky transcends her sport entirely.
The label “GOAT” may be thrown around loosely on the internet, but in Ledecky’s case, it’s no exaggeration; she embodies it.
Over the next few weeks, Ledecky will once again compete for the USA Swimming Team, focusing on her strengths in the 800 and 1,500 meters and hoping to win gold medals, but for the superstar athlete, these Olympics are also an opportunity to reflect on the history of women’s sports, its evolution and, more importantly, where it’s headed.
“As I look forward to this summer, the Paris Olympics really is a full circle moment. The 1900 Olympics were the first Olympics where women could compete, but swimming was not one of the sports,” Ledecky said.
The swimmer’s efforts to support the next generation of female athletes extend far beyond her own success in the pool: Earlier this year, Ledecky joined Athleta’s Power of Sea Collective, a dynamic community of elite athletes (whose members include Simone Biles and Katie Zaferes) that aims to empower women and girls by building confidence and strength through exercise.
Through the program, members of the organization can provide personal and professional mentoring opportunities to promising athletes, participate in Athleta’s Power of Impact programs and even influence the development of specific performance products and styles.
“The Power of She inspires a sense of pride in me,” says Ledecky. “The camaraderie we share as female athletes transcends the playing field. Whether we’re competing or cheering each other on from the stands, the support and positive energy from our teammates is priceless. These small moments of encouragement and solidarity make a big difference and create a stronger sense of belonging. That’s the Power of She in action.”
Ledecky shared some of her favorite Athleta activewear essentials with PS, including supportive sports bras, comfortable half-zips and stylish, breathable mesh workout shorts. To learn more about her work with the brand, visit Athleta.com.